B2B platform for industrial technology suppliers
Project type
B2B platform
Industry
Trade in materials for infrastructure and industry
Technologies
DrupalScope of work
Graphic design, web development, post-implementation support
Key Project Aspects
- Simplified inquiry and order process for customers
- An editable product catalog built for quick data updates
- Up-to-date prices thanks to external price list synchronization
- A notification system that streamlines sales representatives’ work
About the Client
SUMARIS is a Polish company that provides technical solutions for industry, tool shops, and maintenance departments. It supports manufacturing companies in choosing machines, equipment, consumables, and workshop supplies, combining a broad product range with technical consulting.
The Challenge
Sumaris's main problem was its outdated product catalog. It was available as an online paper book, which made it unreadable and inaccessible to mobile device users. Editing it was also a major challenge – each change required manual verification of compliance with the price list and a complete catalog rebuild. Long story short: the key functionality for customers was inefficient, difficult to maintain, and unmanageable.
The client entrusted us not only with the B2B platform implementation, but also with identifying additional issues in the existing solution and recommending improvements. This meant we had to stay flexible throughout the process and adapt to the client’s needs and suggestions.
The Goal
We defined the main priority: designing and building a fully editable product catalog integrated with the price list. We also wanted to introduce some key improvements, including connecting orders to the client’s existing internal database.
Improving the platform’s UX and UI was also crucial. The previous solution discouraged potential customers from making purchases and – from the administrators’ perspective – was difficult to edit, making the sales team’s day-to-day work more complicated.
The Solution
The project itself evolved dynamically – we advised the client on solution choices throughout the process, focusing on the company’s needs and expectations.
We built the platform on Drupal 10, which provides high flexibility in website development, supports further project growth, and guarantees stability and security. The implementation used the following modules:
- Commerce – for placing and processing orders,
- Views – to create an intuitive listing,
- Feeds – for importing categories, products, and their prices easily.
We also implemented a few custom mechanisms that allowed us to tailor the platform to the client’s needs. In addition, we refreshed its visual design to reflect the industry specifics while maintaining the client’s brand colors.
Solution Details
Intuitive Menu and Product Presentation
To help users find information quickly, we implemented logically structured navigation based on categories. The product listing itself was built using the Views module and the Twig theme. We also ensured that product pages included the essential product specifications and up-to-date prices.
The previous catalog is still available on the website, but only for reference purposes. To make things easier for users, we included a link to the current offer.
Catalog Synchronization with the Google Sheets Price List
An important part of the project was integrating products, categories, and the price list with the Google Sheets document used by the sales team. The mechanism detects errors caused by manual updates and shows their exact location, making it easier to correct the data efficiently before importing.
3 Ways to Submit Inquiries and Orders
Customers can submit three request types through the platform:
- Inquiries – used to request product prices and shipping costs. In response to an inquiry, a sales representative contacts the customer and provides the necessary information.
- Standard orders – these generate a ready-to-use PDF document that allows the sales representative and the customer to agree on the sales terms, such as a discount or shipping cost. Once submitted, the order is sent to the internal database.
- Initial offer requests — an additional inquiry type.
Some products have prices displayed, while others do not. The available order path depends on the quantity and types of items added to the cart.
Notification System for the Sales Team
We created a custom mechanism that assigns a sales advisor to each order based on the postal code provided by the customer. Both the allotted advisor and the lead salesperson receive an email notification about the new order, along with a link to the management panel in Drupal.
If the order status doesn’t change within 24 hours, the system automatically assigns it to the lead salesperson and notifies them.
The Effects
Implementing the new B2B platform organized the company’s offer presentation and significantly improved customer service.
Sumaris gained an editable product catalog integrated with up-to-date pricing, while users have convenient access to product information and the ability to choose between three ways to place orders.
See the key results of our work:
Improving user experience with clear navigation.
Refreshed website design and legible product presentation.
Limiting the previous catalog’s functionality to reference purposes only.
Synchronizing categories, products, and prices for easier information updates.
Improving the salespeople’s work using a notification system.
Ability to choose between three forms of submitting orders depending on the quantity and types of products.
Making the editors’ work easier due to simple catalog and product card editing.
Statistics
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